Corporal Punishment?

By -
All the carnage happening in London has sparked fiery debate around how the youth are out of control and how discipline is non existent and disrepect is viral.

Yes, I agree with it all but the call for corporate punishment to be re-instated in schools is so NOT the answer in my humble opinion.

Teachers are not responsible for raising respectful, polite and well-balanced kids. The parent are responsible for this. End of story.

Corporal punishment doesnt work. Just like handing out hidings on a regular basis at home doesnt work. Kids need to care. They need to be given a reason and a motivation to care. About themselves, their futures and those of the people around them.

I would be seriously hacked off if anybody hit my kids. I dont condone that and am glad it has been banned. I remember a particular teacher taking a dislike to a mate of mine at school and he got jacked at least once a week, just because. Its not on.

Teachers need to communicate with the parents. (and most do) PARENTS NEED TO TAKE ACTION. The problem, as I see it, is a breakdown in family values and strong family units.

Please note that this post was written 'off the cuff' in about 5 minutes before I fly out the door....sparked by a conversation on Cape Talk!!

What are your thoughts on this issue?   (please note I am not wanting to spark a discussion on the London issue here okay?)

Comments

Ness said…
If there's a debate around corporal punishment - I haven't heard it (yet). I wouldn't condone anyone laying a finger on my kid either. Things seemed to have calmed down now too. People here are *so* hacked off/embarrassed about what happened. The good thing is that it's brought people together - not sure if you guys saw the crowds of people armed with brooms, bags and gloves cleaning up London this morning - gosh it brought a tear my dry old eye balls :)
August 10, 2011 at 10:31 AM
Anonymous said…
Allie says:

I couldn't agree more about teachers not being allowed to hit children.
I twice went to schools like a raging lion on behalf of my kids who had been hit there (one so seriously he couldn't sit down! And for no better reason than he was English speaking and his Afrikaans speaking teacher hated English people!)

I agree that parents need to step up ito discipline.
Sometimes it seems to me that
young parents are a little afraid of their children?
Or afraid of damaging them emotionally if they take too strong a line?
Is there any truth in this perception, do you think?
August 10, 2011 at 10:34 AM
cat said…
I agree 100% with you Mel - the buck stops with you that is the parent. Not with the school. And I certainly do not want them to hit my child.
August 10, 2011 at 12:31 PM
MomAgain@40 said…
Totally agree. Corporal punishment does not work! It is all about raising children with empathy towards other people, taking responsibility for their own actions and having hope for the future! The buck stops with me, and if I get a negative feedback about my child's behaviour, I need to do an inspection of my own parenting... Not blame the system or school!
August 10, 2011 at 1:25 PM
blackhuff said…
I don't feel the same. Corporal punishment have worked in the past and so did hidings at home - I believe that hidings was the thing that formed me into a good teenager/adult. I was never abused by any teacher or parent but I do believe that hidings have helped me in forming me. (No pun intended - just my opinion.)
August 10, 2011 at 2:49 PM
MelB said…
@ Allie - yes I do believe parents have gotten soft these days. they are very concerned that any wrong move could muck up their child pysche!

@Blackhuff - thats cool, clearly it worked for you. all to often I have seen corporal punishment turn children into silent, angry and resentful people. Not remorseful. I have found quite a few useful alternatives that have reaped rewards.(although I do spank very occasionally) Spanking at home is one thing but HEAVEN HELP the person outside my home that lays a hand on my kid! ;-)
August 10, 2011 at 3:25 PM
Stefanie said…
I will agree to disagree, my kids are older and I decline to "make them" obey the rules at school when the teachers and headmaster don't enforce them. We have girls dyeing their hair, wearing makeup, piercings in their faces and they are never sent home or taken to task. Why should I ensure my son's hair is short when the headmaster lets it go?
August 10, 2011 at 3:30 PM
Laura said…
I dont know Mel! On the one hand I agree that if anyone touched my kids I would do them serious bodily harm!

BUT look at how we were when we were in school and corporal punishment existed (mainly for boys) - we behaved. We listened. We feared our teachers (in a good way) - yes kids did still misbehave etc but not on the level they do today. We were respectful to the teachers - have you heard some kids speaking to teachers and adults in general? It is SHOCKING!

So yes I agree as parents we are responsible but maybe we need to give the teachers more power again?
August 10, 2011 at 5:49 PM
Kirsty said…
Discipline starts at home.... yes, I agree. But it HAS to be followed through at school. As Stefanie says, whats the point of ramming home something, when the headmaster turns a blind eye to it? Conservative, disciplined schooling - that which instills discipline, manners and respect - that is what is needed. No smacking needed at school - but punishment? Oh hell yes!
August 10, 2011 at 6:15 PM
MelB said…
Well said Kirsty - with you 100%! I am all for strict discipline and giving teachers the power to enforce it but I dont believe that equates to corporal punishment at all.
August 10, 2011 at 7:07 PM
Ordinarylife said…
I totally agree that discipline starts at home. Parents need to parent and to teach the kids respect. Respect for themselves, their parents and their teachers.
I would not want my daughter getting hit at school.
August 11, 2011 at 1:42 PM
christa said…
I did find myself say just the other day that I think hidings should come back to the classroom. I often help in a class with 32 boys and oh boy!!!! The teacher has to go through 5 ways of disciplining them simply to get 32 boys to try and listen to an instruction. I really thought a hiding from time to time will produce better results.....
August 11, 2011 at 9:54 PM
Michele said…
Interesting post, Mel, and interesting comments. I was raised with corporal punishment and am totally opposed to it. Fear is a horrible way to shape behavior; it might work in the short-term but creates huge problems in the long-term, i.e. cycle of violence. Punishments, yes; violence, no.
August 11, 2011 at 10:10 PM
Joanne said…
We had corporal punishment in my day at school in SA and I had my share of it and I cant say it did me any harm but the teacher sending me out of the class for the entire term of maths - thats is punishment - long term!! so I think a ruler occasionally doesnt hurt.
August 14, 2011 at 11:01 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hello April 2024

By -
We have settled into our new home.  It has taken many twists and turns along the way. In August 2022, Rach moved out and now she is returning home. Which means I am renovating the tiny house to make space for my firstborn.  I can safely say I am very excited to have everyone under the roof again - I was not ready for my eldest to leave so soon. It was never the plan. Life has a way of offering second chances and restoration in way we never can imagine. Although this comes with its own set of challenges - for her and for me - I see it as an absolute win. It may be a revolving door and various permutations in the years ahead but this is almost certainly the last year all 3 kids will be under my roof. This blog was born in 2007 - when Levi was under a year old. I spent the next 8 years sharing my life and theirs right here.  I have battled to figure out what this blog now needs to be ?  Am I going to continue to write for my kids? I am not even sure they need that anymo...
Read more

Silent Tears

By -
Image
As I was rushing around putting kids to bed my tween, Honey, beckoned to me. 'Come here Mom, I need to talk to you.' Something in her tone slowed me down and forced me to take a breath and follow her into her bedroom. As I looked at my beautiful daughter, growing up so fast I heard these words tumble out of her mouth: 'Mom, I hate my face. I am ugly'. I cannot tell you how unprepared I was for this statement. And yet, in an instant, I remembered this time in my life; when I looked in the mirror and didnt like what I saw. I listened quietly as she went through each of her stunning features and told me what she saw. I know there is little I can say with objectivity as her mother. She wont believe me just as I didnt believe my mother. I am happy to say when she woke up this morning she was her usual cheerful self. Full of beans, energy and confidence. Not a glimmer of the sad, insecure little person I saw the previous evening. I will have to start anticipatin...
Read more

April lockdown life

By -
The weekend went by in a blur.  A blur of eating, lounging, sleeping, netflixing, occasional exercise and general malaise. I did, finally, get around to setting my kids loose to find their Easter eggs...a week later but no one really knows what day of the week or month it is anyways. There was much hilarity as the boyf took his life in his hands and pushed the girlf into the pool to celebrate Easter victory. Usually this would have him sin-binned for hours but she took it unusually well.... I spent some time online searching for ways to pivot the business I work for...in an attempt to keep my income rolling in. Sadly my rental properties are not ticking over as my tenants cannot pay rent...this will be month 2 of zero rental income for me which is terrifying..but I cannot blame them. We are all suffering at the hands of this ridiculous outbreak and can only hope that some sort of revenue generating income finds its way into our economy soon. I have started watching Outlande...
Read more